Jess & Jamal discuss global warming and the cold weather that triggered a wave of blackouts across Texas, leaving millions of residents shivering in the dark. Our guest this week is Sani Meo, publisher of "This Week in Palestine" (http://thisweekinpalestine.com). Sani Meo talks about the different themes the magazine has been featuring for the past twenty years, and the challenges he is facing to keep publishing a quality magazine under Israeli occupation and additional restrictions due to C...
Feb 18, 2021•49 min
Legal expert Diana Buttu discusses the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) ruling that it has jurisdiction over the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, opening the way for an inquiry into allegations of Israeli war crimes in the region. Jess and Jamal discuss President Biden’s approach to human rights in the Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia and Palestine. They also discuss Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
Feb 11, 2021•52 min
Jewish Israeli activist Ronnie Barkan says that Israel is demonstrating “Medical Apartheid,” and not vaccine leadership, by not providing COVID-19 vaccines to approximately five million Palestinians who live under Israeli rule. Jess and Jamal discuss the saga of Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green who faces a House vote to strip her from committee assignments, over her history of trafficking in racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and baseless conspiracy theories.
Feb 04, 2021•59 min
Jess and Jamal discuss a recently discovered video showing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a QAnon-supporting Republican, trying to force Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to retake their congressional oaths on the Bible. They also discuss “A Regime of Jewish Supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This Is Apartheid,” a position paper released by B’Tselem, a leading Israeli human-rights organization https://www.btselem.org/publications/fulltext/202101_this_is_apartheid
Jan 28, 2021•57 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the challenges that President Joe Biden faces repairing the damage caused to US allies overseas, while domestically confronting COVID-19, soaring unemployment and undoing many of Trump’s executive orders. Phil Pasquini reports from Washington, DC about the heightened security that will remain in the US capital for weeks to come, even after Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Jan 21, 2021•52 min
Jess and Jamal discuss the rising threat of white supremacy in the US. They analyze the events that led to the storming of the US Capitol and the second impeachment of Donald Trump. Israeli Filmmaker Ram Loevy talks about his recent film, "The Dead of Jaffa." The film is about a Palestinian Israeli couple who are torn between their emerging parental responsibility and a very real fear of police retribution. The film is streamed for free on LinkTV.org.
Jan 14, 2021•56 min
Arab Talk reporter Phil Pasquini provides an update from Washington, DC about the storming of the US Capitol and the looting and vandalism that ensued. Jess & Jamal discuss the security failure and the damage caused to the U.S. global standing by Trump's presidency.
Jan 07, 2021•54 min
Human rights attorney Huwaida Arraf discusses President-elect Joe Biden’s nominations to fill government positions in his administration, and their impact on the progressive movement in the Democratic Party. She also talks about Biden’s policies in the Middle East and his position towards the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Jess & Jamal discuss the impact left on the Middle East after the death of Mohamed Bouazizi, who set himself on fire ten years ago, sparking the Tunisian Revolution that be...
Dec 17, 2020•56 min
Jess & Jamal discuss the recent purchase of Beitar Jerusalem, known as the “most racist soccer team in the world,” by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Nahyan, a first cousin of the de facto Emirati ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. They also discuss Israel’s systematic targeting of Palestinian children.
Dec 11, 2020•54 min
Jess & Jamal discuss whether Iran will strike back at Israel or the US over the assassination of its top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, and if Trump will risk a 'full-fledged war' with Iran by bombing its nuclear facilities. They also discuss the alarming rise of COVID-19 deaths in the US, as the American public awaits emergency authorization for the vaccine with a target date of December 10.
Dec 04, 2020•52 min
While most congressional Republicans have been silent about acknowledging Biden’s presidential victory, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said America will “have an orderly transfer from this administration to the next one” on time. Will this be the case? Jamal interviews reporter Phil Pasquini about the drama unfolding in Washington, DC.
Nov 19, 2020•54 min
Arab Talk correspondent Phil Pasquini provides updates on the US presidential race from Washington, DC, and discusses how a potentially contested election might batter America’s global image. Jess and Jamal give their perspectives on the antiquated electoral system and Trump’s premature victory claim.
Nov 05, 2020•59 min
Arab Talk reporter Phil Pasquini provides an update about the ongoing preparations for the US Elections in Washington, DC, with some business owners boarding up their storefronts in anticipation of potential riots. Jess and Jamal reveal their predictions for the presidential elections. They also discuss the latest wave of COVID-19 sweeping Europe and the United States.
Oct 29, 2020•54 min
Our guest Chafika Attalai, International Project Manager at CCIF (Collectif Contre L’Islamophobie en France), discusses Emmanuel Macron’s recent attacks on Muslims in France and a new Islamophobic bill aimed at banning Muslim religious practices. Jess and Jamal discuss the increased attacks by Israeli colonial settlers on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest.
Oct 16, 2020•55 min
Arab Talk guest analyst Ronnie Barkan says that the Israeli left is in denial, as thousands of Israelis protested across the country, flouting a new law meant to curb anti-Netanyahu demonstrations during a coronavirus lockdown. Jess and Jamal provide the latest update on the upcoming presidential elections. And an interview with Mikey Muhanna, Executive Director of Afikra.com.
Oct 09, 2020•56 min
Canadian-Armenian Journalist Raffi Elliott discusses the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict which erupted over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 100 people, including civilians, have died in separate clashes and bombings. Jess and Jamal provide their take on the chaotic debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. They question the effectiveness of the two additional debates scheduled in October.
Oct 02, 2020•52 min
A Webinar Censored: an interview with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi. Jillian C. York, Director for International Freedom of Expression discusses corporate censorship.
Sep 25, 2020•58 min
Our guest Ali Abunimah discusses his recent article in the Electronic Intifada, "Meet Emgage, the pro-Israel Muslims backing Joe Biden." Jess and Jamal deconstruct the so-called Abraham Accords.
Sep 18, 2020•53 min
Donald Trump, The Teflon Man - 10 Sep 2020 by News You Can Use with Jamal Dajani & Jess Ghannam
Sep 11, 2020•56 min
Journalist Daoud Kuttab discusses the recent arrest of Emad Hajjaj, one of the Arab world’s best-known cartoonists, by Jordanian police. He was released only after an international outcry, which included an article in the Washington Post by our guest. Jess and Jamal talk about the reaction to the UAE normalization with Israel and the recent Islamophobic comments by MSNBC host Joy Reid. Reid has previously faced criticism for derogatory remarks towards Muslims and the LGBTQ community.
Sep 04, 2020•50 min
Palestinian-American attorney and human rights activist Huwaida Arraf discusses why the 2020 Democratic platform betrays Palestinians and again gives Israel a pass. Jess and Jamal talk about the shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. They also discuss the Democratic and Republican conventions.
Aug 28, 2020•49 min
The UAE government says that its normalization with Israel “immediately stops” Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Our guest Diana Buttu refutes this. Jess and Jamal discuss what’s shaping up at the DNC and the recent attacks on Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour. They also discuss former Trump advisor Steve Bannon’s arrest on fraud charges.
Aug 21, 2020•56 min
Guest Dr. Rania Masri describes the aftermath of Beirut’s explosion. She says that Lebanon's donor countries have pledged very little money to help Beirut recover from its horrific devastation. Below is a link to a variety of organizations you can donate to: http://awanmedia.net/media/beirut-disaster-relief/ Jess and Jamal discuss the United Arab Emirate’s normalization with Israel. They also talk about the recent primary victory achieved by the Democratic “Squad.”
Aug 14, 2020•55 min
Lebanon Is Devastated - 6 Aug 2020 by News You Can Use with Jamal Dajani & Jess Ghannam
Aug 06, 2020•54 min
Guest Lara Kiswani, Executive Director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC) discusses why right-wing groups are flooding an ongoing public comment period on whether California should cut Ethnic Studies generally, and Arab-American Studies specifically, from their schools. Jess and Jamal discuss President Trump’s tweet about delaying the elections.
Jul 30, 2020•54 min
Jess and Jamal discuss both the Democratic Party’s platform on foreign policy and President Trump’s cognitive abilities. Cookbook author and host of "Feast in the Middle East," Blanche Shaheen, shares delicious heirloom Palestinian recipes to help people cope with sheltering-in-place during the pandemic.
Jul 24, 2020•57 min
Guest Ronnie Barkan describes his ordeal along with two other activists who are facing trial in Berlin for disrupting an event which was held in June 2017 at the Humboldt University for member of the Israeli Knesset Aliza Lavie. To learn more about the Humboldt-3 visit: https://medium.com/humboldt3/ Jess and Jamal discuss Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decree ordering the Hagia Sophia to be opened for Muslim prayers. A top Turkish court had revoked the 1934 decree by Mustafa Kemal Ata...
Jul 16, 2020•58 min
Guest comedian and writer Amer Zahr says that Arab Americans should not be counted as white in the US Census. Does being legally white turn this oft-sidelined community into a ‘legally invisible’ entity? Jess and Jamal discuss the recent brouhaha with Peter Beinart’s editorial making the case for a binational Jewish-Palestinian state.
Jul 09, 2020•59 min
Diana Buttu, legal analyst and former legal advisor to the Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian negotiators, explains the planned Israeli annexation of illegal colonial settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Jess and Jamal discuss the recent arrest of Jeffrey Epstein’s confidante Ghislaine Maxwell and her father’s ties to the Israeli Mossad.
Jul 02, 2020•57 min
Arab Talk guest Eman Jamal shares her personal experience fighting COVID-19 after contracting it along with her family in Dubai, UAE. She also provides tips about ways to cope with the illness. Jess and Jamal discuss Jamaal Bowman’s victory over Rep. Eliot Engel marking a major defeat for the Israel lobby.
Jun 25, 2020•57 min